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Indys Take Aggressive Stance To Win Viewers

As the local independent stations jockey for viewership with the networks and each other, WPWR-Ch.50 seems to be leading the pack.

What is WPWR doing that is different?

For starters, the station is taking an aggressive stance on programming to compete with the networks for viewers. Rather than take the safer route chosen by many independent stations by running older movies and time-tested series once popular on the networks, WPWR is airing a selection of first-run, action-oriented shows.

As one of the founding stations of the Warner Bros. Prime-Time Entertainment Network (PTEN), WPWR has a say in what kinds programming it gets. And it isn't being shy about making its preferences clear.

"We've had our say in it right from the start," says Mike Malone, WPWR's promotion manager. "We're deciding our future . . . we're trying to be the alternate station."

The station is banking on action to counter the recent trend of reality-based shows, bringing back "Time Trax" and "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" (7 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays, respectively) for a second season.

"Babylon 5," the science-fiction thriller that premiered as a movie in March and did well in the ratings, is coming back as a mid-season addition in January, with a re-airing of the two-hour pilot in November. WPWR has hopes that the series, set aboard a space station in the year 2257, will capture viewers who may be stranded when the hugely popular "Star Trek: The Next Generation" finishes its seventh and final season.

New to WPWR are the action/adventure series "Acapulco H.E.A.T." and "Cobra."

"Acapulco H.E.A.T.," a one-hour show, airs at 6 p.m. Sundays beginning with a two-hour premiere October 10. H.E.A.T. (an acronym for Hemisphere Emergency Action Team) features a team of operatives and counter-terrorists who fight international crime from their base on the Mexican Riviera.

Filmed entirely on location in and around Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, the syndicated series stars Catherine Oxenberg and male model Fabio. The show has been picked up by 127 stations covering over 87 percent of the country.

WPWR's other foray into the action/adventure department is "Cobra," which airs at 8 p.m. Mondays and repeats at 11 a.m. Saturdays. The series premiered Monday with Michael Dudikoff as a former Navy SEAL who goes AWOL after he refuses orders to blow up a military target occupied by civilians. He later resurfaces and joins an organization known only as COBRA, a high-tech investigation outfit.

"Baywatch," (Mondays at 7 p.m.) the popular adventure-drama about Los Angeles lifeguards, gets another prime-time slot, paired with "Cobra" for a night of first-run action. Originally a prime-time series on NBC, "Baywatch" has been successful in syndication, and is returning for its third season on WPWR.

The station is also adding a new talk show, "Ricki Lake," at 4:30 p.m.. Lake, whose credits include the movie "Hairspray" and the TV show "China Beach," is targeting an audience of young adult women but going up against news and kids shows.

In another ground-breaking move, WPWR will air animated children's shows in primetime. "Biker Mice From Mars" and "The New Adventures of Speedracer" will air Sundays at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

"Music Scoupe" ( 11:30 p.m. Saturdays) is hosted and co-produced by Dave Kendall, the former host and producer of MTV's "120 Minutes." The show features interviews with famous artists, video clips of hot new bands and reports on music industry news and trends.

Also returning are: "Roseanne," which can be seen twice a day Monday-Friday (5:30 and 10:30 p.m.) and "Montel Williams" (weekdays at 9 p.m. and 10 a.m.).

Some changes are in the works for the fall schedules of the other contenders in the race of independent TV stations:

WGN-Ch. 9:

Chicago's "superstation" brings "The Jenny Jones Show" back to daytime television (at 10 a.m.) from its previous 1:05 a.m. slot on WMAQ. "Jenny Jones" follows "The Joan Rivers Show" at 9 a.m. as part of a morning full of talk, which also includes "Geraldo" and "Maury Povich." Channel 9's new early-evening line-up includes back-to-back reruns of "Full House" at 5 p.m., followed by "Cheers" at 6 p.m. (You can also catch "Cheers" later on, at 10:30 weeknights.) WGN taps into the country music scene with "Countdown at the Neon Armadillo," hosted by Billy Dean from the Neon Armadillo in Disney World. (5 p.m. Saturdays)

Also new on Saturdays is "Caesar's Challenge Weekend" at 6 p.m., a game show where contestants compete by unscrambling leters to form words. Hosted by Ahmad Rashad, the show is produced at Caesar's Palace.

WGBO-Ch. 66:

New to WGBO, the CBS series "In the Heat of the Night" will air at 6 p.m. weeknights. Other vintage favorites include "Cannon" and "Hawaii 5-0" (Mondays at 7 and 8 p.m.), and "Matlock" (weekdays at 9 p.m.).

WCFC-Ch. 38:

Chicago's Christian station has brought back a program of interest to senior citizens. "Young at Heart," returning after being out of production for a few years, is hosted by Ira Stanthill, a 79-year-old author and songwriter. It airs at 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning September 28. "The Awakening," a drama geared toward urban youth, is produced in cooperation with an area church and airs at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Also new to WCFC is "You Need to Know," a current events commentary program hosted by Dr. David Mains, which airs at 6:30 p.m. weeknights follwing the national news.

WCIU-Ch. 26:

The Univision affiliate is planning to air a few specials in the fall, in addition to the Spanish-language talk show "Cristina" and evening soap operas.